SCE to install 38,000 EV chargers across California
Southern California Edison has got the green light for an expansive electric car charging infrastructure programme that will add about 38,000 new chargers throughout the utility’s service area in California over the next four years.
The program is an expansion of the Charge Ready pilot, which the utility launched three years ago. During the pilot phase, SCE has partnered with businesses, local governments and other organizations to add more than 1,800 EV chargers at more than 100 sites. Already then they had applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for an extension.
This has now been granted, with 10,000 chargers less than the initially proposed 48,000. SCE says the $436-milliion Charge Ready 2 program will continue to focus on providing charging infrastructure at workplaces, public parking lots, schools, hospitals and destination centres. Different from the first pilot, the new large roll-out has added rebates to support the installation of EV charging ports in new multifamily dwellings that are under construction.
“By making more charging stations available, we are helping to advance a key component of California’s ambitious climate and transportation electrification goals,” said Jered Lindsay, SCE principal manager of Air and Climate Policy. He also pointed to an analysis of the state’s climate goals. SCE concludes that California calls for 76% — or 26 million — cars on highways to become electric over the next 25 years.
38,000 charging stations should come in handy here. SCE’s approach usually includes installation and maintenance. The company also provides rebates to reduce the charging station costs that are owned by participants after.
In addition to Charge Ready 2 for passenger EVs, SCE launched a program last year for trucks, buses and off-road industrial equipment. The program aims to add charging stations to support at least 8,490 medium- and heavy-duty EVs over five years.
The company also vowed to electrify every passenger car and small-to-midsize SUV in their fleer by 2030 in July this year. The pledge also includes 30% of their medium-duty vehicles and pickup trucks, 8% of their heavy-duty trucks and 60% of their forklifts to switch to electrical power.
“Setting goals to electrify our fleet is one more way to show that we remain committed to making the changes necessary to clean our air and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said Drew Murphy, senior vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development for Edison International, SCE’s parent company.
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